Coffee

Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in more than 60 different plant species all over the world. The coffee bush is one of them. Caffeine consumption and its effects in both animals and humans has been a topic of study for more than a century and likely will remain so for the future.

There are many different ways to extract caffeine from the green coffee beans before the roasting process. The first successful commercial decaffeination was invented in 1903 by the German coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius (1874-1943) and his assistant Karl Wimmer, a pharmacist by trade. The Roselius process, as it became known, required the use of benzene or methylene chloride as a solvent.

This is how, for many years, the brand of decaffeinated coffee marketed under the label “Sanka” was sold in France and the United States. The process, nowadays, is completely different. Although not the first to take caffeine out of coffee beans, something done by others previously, Roselius became a leading figure in promoting the process and marketing decaffeinated coffee as a new product.

Roselius filed for a patent in 1906. The Roselius process that was patented included the use of steam and chemical solvents initially. Roselius found out that caffeine can be removed from coffee by treating the green beans with chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents. After the solvents are removed, then the beans are roasted as usual. For years, Roselius and his scientists continued experimenting with ways to improve decaffeination.

In 1906, in Bremen, Germany, Roselius founded his company and called it Kaffee Handelsgesellschaft AG (Kafeee HAG, Coffee Hag). In the 1970′s, the company Roselius founded, patented a process developed by the Max Planck Institute that utilizes carbon dioxide as a way to eliminate caffeine from coffee beans. This carbon dioxide process continues to be one of the most common methods in use today.

Do you know the interesting and somewhat legendary story behind the Roselius “invention” of decaffeinated coffee?

• A shipment of spoiled coffee beans led Roselius and his assistant to experiment with “ruined” coffee beans in an attempt to get some use out of what was considered a loss.
• Roselius had acquired a shipment of coffee beans from Latin America to be delivered by cargo ship to his warehouse.
• The ship ran into some very rough waters at sea and the cargo hull took in salt water.
• The coffee beans in the flooded portion of the ship became sea salt water soaked.
• Roselius was a very savvy and determined businessman who would take every effort to get a return even out of what looked like a “real lemon.”
• Roselius’ researchers took the “ruined” coffee beans and analyzed them very carefully.
• They conducted taste trials to evaluate the effect of salt water on the coffee beans.
• To their surprise, they realized that the sea water had extracted much of the caffeine without affecting the taste.
• They confirmed that the coffee had an added taste of saltiness but, otherwise, the flavor was good and appealing to the palate.
• This, of course, was great news to Roselius who saw an opportunity to market a new “type” of coffee to consumers in Europe and North America. What looked like an initial loss turned into the makings of an empire.

Decaffeinated coffee is a very important part of the coffee trade and a beverage of choice for many consumers. Due to medical reasons or personal preference, decaffeinated coffee is something coffee lovers and connoisseurs consume regularly and in varying quantities. Top grade decaffeinated Arabica specialty coffees are part of a gourmet coffee’s choice list. They include single origin varietals from coffee growing regions such as Sumatra Estate, Costa Rican SHB, and Colombian Supremo. In fact, the list of available decaffeinated coffees is extensive so start drinking your cup now!

May I suggest you try a delicious decaffeinated Mocha-Java Blend?

Timothy (“Tim”) S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him “The Gourmet Coffee Guy.” He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.

Come visit the author’s website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com

Copyright – Timothy S. Collins. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Author: Timothy S. Collins
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Most consumers would think that coffee is coffee and that it wouldn’t matter if it’s instant or brewed as long as it tastes okay and wakes them up. While that is all fine and dandy, it is worth noting that picking the best beans according to your preference can result in a coffee which will be most looked forward to every morning. And if you own a grinder or a grind and brew coffee maker, you will notice the difference once you start thinking about your options and you will be glad that you did.

• Do Coffee Species Matter?

There are different species of coffee plants like Coffea arabica, Coffea benghalensis, Coffea canephora, Coffea congensis, Coffea excelsa, Coffea gallienii, Coffea bonnieri, Coffea mogeneti, Coffea liberica, and Coffea stenophylla. Each species produce beans that have certain different characteristics and distinct flavor profiles.

Around 75% of the world’s coffee trade is comprised of Coffee Arabica, the reason being its preferred flavor and ability to thrive in most areas. Arabica beans are coveted for the deep aroma and great flavor that can go with most coffee additives like cream, sugar, and so on. This is something that most coffee drinkers agree on with good reason. You can never go wrong with a high quality brand of 100% Arabica with a medium roast.

• Which Roast Is The Best?

There are different types of roast, depending on how long the beans are roasted. It can be determined by different degrees of darkness. There are four main types of roasts – Light (Cinnamon Roast, Half City, New England), Medium (Full city, American, Regular, Breakfast, Brown), Dark (High, Viennese, Italian Espresso, Continental), and Darkest (Italian, French, Spanish).

Describing the taste of different roasts is as subjective as that of wine. There is no substitute to judging them with your own palate as only you can decide what your personal taste is. Choosing a type of roast is mostly on personal preference, but most people do like medium roast for its balanced flavor and sweetness.

• How Important Is The Origin?

Coffee beans are distinct in their terrier, or capturing the place in where they were grown. While differences in flavor can be subtle, beans grown in Hawaii and Central America are more of snappy and vibrant variety, while those from East Africa and Yemen are deeper in bitterness, and those grown in Indonesia and Sumatra are even more complex in flavor.

• Storing Coffee Beans

When open to air and light, roasted coffee beans can lose their flavor and go stale quite quickly. The best way to store beans is with an opaque airtight canister at room temperature. Theoretically, refrigeration can help preserve the beans longer, but with frequent opening of containers for use creating condensation, the moisture can tamper with the beans’ flavor.

When purchasing beans, make sure to get those stored in a sealed bag with a one-way valve laminated on it, which lets carbon dioxide out and keeping outside air from entering. Upon roasting, coffee beans produce prodigious amounts of carbon dioxide, so such valves are necessary for initial storage. Either that or frequent opening of jars for venting as done by most coffee shops. Do not go for beans stored in open beans as they would mostly be stale.

• Grinding It Right

The perfect grind size is crucial so that the right amount of the flavor is extracted from the beans without going to far, which will take excess bitterness along for the ride. The smaller the grind size, the more surface area there is and over extraction is a big possibility. Too big of a grind size will just keep the hot water from getting enough flavor. Most people would say that they don’t like strong coffee, while the reality is that they don’t like bitter coffee. With coffee, strong doesn’t really have to mean bitter.

If your coffee maker comes with a grinder, then use it. Experiment with different grind sizes to find your preference. If there is no grinder along with your coffee maker, then a small coffee grinder with pulse action will do the job just fine. Grinding your own is best as it is better to draw out the flavors closer to brewing time than having them ground in the shop. Most find a 15-20 second grind best while espresso calls for a finer grind.

Selecting and storing the beans right can have a great impact on the flavor of your coffee, a difference of changing the mediocre coffee from your coffee machine to a restaurant quality one in the comforts of your own home. So next time you are grocery shopping for coffee give coffee beans choice some thought.

Having the best coffee maker helps, but buying the best beans and grinding them right can make a huge difference to the quality of your brew.

Yogi Shinde is the webmaster of Coffee Maker Ratings & Reviews website which provides unbiased information on different types and brands of coffee makers. This article is free for publishing provided the resource link is maintained.

Author: Yogi Shinde
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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